TMC is an independent, primarily volunteer organization that relies on ad revenue to cover its operating costs. Please consider whitelisting TMC on your ad blocker and becoming a Supporting Member. For more info: Support TMC

Developers who want to work on the code have to go through a complex procedure to download the source code and install the tools needed to build and update the firmware. It's a lot of work if you're not going to be partying on the code. Fortunately, there's a much simpler procedure if you just want to update your box to the latest firmware. Once you've been through it once, it's very quick and easy. The hardest part is removing the box from the car and undoing the four screws to get at the circuit board.

You'll have to invest about $40 in the gizmo that transfers the bits, but it can be shared if there are other OVMS owners nearby.

The v1.2.5 firmware that has been released to developers includes a revision to the LED scheme to give us more information on what is wrong with a module (in particular the modem communications). In particular, it will give us more information on SIM card and network errors. There are no functional enhancements - just the new LED scheme and some minor bug fixes.

We hope to be able to cut v1.3.0 firmware later this week. That will go to developers for testing, and then to end users a couple of weeks after that. The v1.3.0 firmware will have some nice new features (like charge time control, home link control, and a large number of new SMS commands, etc)

The Android App can show car firmware version. We have a new iOS App going through Apple approval that has the same capability. If you are running v1.2.5, or later, the firmware version is 'blinked out' when the module powers on.

For end-users that want to upgrade their firmware, there are now three options: (a) get a PICKIT2 and follow Tom's guidance, (b) Share a PICKIT2 amongst other users in your area, and (c) get the assistance of a developer in your area (names and contact points listed in the OVMS installation thread).

For end-users that want to upgrade their firmware, there are now three options: (a) get a PICKIT2 and follow Tom's guidance, (b) Share a PICKIT2 amongst other users in your area, and (c) get the assistance of a developer in your area (names and contact points listed in the OVMS installation thread).

Click to expand...

@Mark: assume from your post that we mortal end-users can skip v1.2.5 and wait for v1.3.0?

I wound up with the PicKit3 - I tried it first on Mac OSX then Windows 7 but received the same error from both versions of the IPE - it can see the PicKit3 but not the device on the end. Anyone any ideas or sources for reading?

My problem is that I bought the Pic3 thinking that it was just a 'latest version' however, the good news is that I need to get it working anyway as I have a pic based project for work that I need to figure out so, it's all good research.

I wound up with the PicKit3 - I tried it first on Mac OSX then Windows 7 but received the same error from both versions of the IPE - it can see the PicKit3 but not the device on the end. Anyone any ideas or sources for reading?

In my defense, that thought did hit me as a packed everything away last night - one last look at Tom's screenshot showing a checkbox by vdd. I've just found same for the new IDE, I'll post up screen shots in a mo... :-0

- - - Updated - - -

Following the instructions from Tom at http://www.idleloop.com/tesla/ovms/ first to get a clear idea of what we're doing, I set about the same using the latest PicKit3 and MPE X Pic programming toolkit.

The new toolkit is available for, and works the same on Mac, Linux and Windows, available from http://www.microchip.com/pagehandler/en-us/family/mplabx/#downloads. Here I'm using Mac.

Meta

Do you value your experience at TMC? Consider becoming a Supporting Member of Tesla Motors Club. As a thank you for your contribution, you'll get nearly no ads in the Community and Groups sections. Additional perks are available depending on the level of contribution. Please visit the Account Upgrades page for more details.